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Reyes feels 'great' after simulated game

Reyes feels 'great' after simulated game

ARLINGTON -- Jose Reyes had a pair of hits and two walks in a simulated game at the Blue Jays' Spring Training complex on Saturday morning.

Toronto's shortstop singled and tripled during his second rehab game as he continues to make progress from a sprained left ankle.

Reyes also fielded one groundball, turned a double play and felt "great," according to Blue Jays manager John Gibbons. Reyes remains on schedule to appear in his first official rehab game for Class A Dunedin on Monday night.

The 30-year-old Reyes is expected to be out until the end of June, but his timeline could be moved up depending on how he feels over the next week or so. He'll likely be back for a series against the Red Sox in late June, but he could potentially be activated in time to join the Blue Jays in Tampa Bay from June 24-26.

Gibbons said that Reyes will reclaim his spot at the top of the Blue Jays' batting order when he returns, but he has yet to make any final determinations on what the rest of the lineup will look like.

Toronto has been using Melky Cabrera in the leadoff spot during Reyes' absence, with Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion batting second and third, respectively.

The alignment has proved effective, and it's likely Bautista and Encarnacion will stay put with Cabrera moving down in the order, but it's something Gibbons will think about over the next week or so.

"He'll definitely be the leadoff guy, but we haven't looked at it whether we'd like to slide Melky to two and move those other two back, or leave them in their spot and move Melky down a little bit," Gibbons said. "Not sure yet, but I don't think we want to tinker too much. Bautista and Encarnacion have been good in their spots."

Reyes was batting .395 with a homer, five RBIs and five stolen bases before he sprained his ankle while stealing second base during a game in Kansas City on April 12.